Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar (AP Photo)
Keeping all that in mind, logically, he can do it – score 100 centuries – and if he does, I will take my hat off. Because he has committed that it will be his last World Cup, “As a well-wisher, I really wish he hangs up his boots by then (2027 World Cup). Ashwin believes Kohli has several qualities that make him exceptional, particularly his fitness, consistency and ability to score hundreds regularly. But when it comes to pure skill, he feels Tendulkar remains unmatched. To maintain such elite level of fitness and batting requires a lot of effort, and I’m sure behind closed doors, he is continuing to put in that work. He doesn’t want to do it after that. It will be a remarkable achievement. And in this home run, if he is able to do it, I would say both of them are on the same level, without a shadow of a doubt,” added Ashwin.
3 in any generation, he would have been a champion player, no doubt. But look at the rules, in the first innings, after 34 overs against West Indies in the 1st ODI, they should have played with one ball. Sachin Tendulkar played a lot of 50-overs cricket in day-time. Kohli currently has 86 international hundreds and needs another 14 to reach the mark Tendulkar set 14 years ago. With India expected to play another 30-odd ODIs, including next year’s World Cup in South Africa, the opportunity remains for Kohli to chase the record. Kohli has already said that the 2027 World Cup will be his final appearance at the tournament. Ashwin also does not expect his former captain to continue beyond that event, making the pursuit of 100 centuries particularly significant. If Kohli manages to complete a century of international hundreds before or during the 2027 World Cup, Ashwin believes the two batting greats would finally stand on the same level.
And to compare people of two generations, it’s sinister in my mind,” Ashwin said on his YouTube show ‘Ash ki Baat’. On two counts. First, I am a big fan. And second, look at the kind of innings he has played. He was Indian cricket’s hope. It is not Virat Kohli’s fault. If he were to bat at No. The ball got old in daylight. We don’t play that. Five fielders are inside the circle. Two new balls. These are huge factors. For Ashwin, reaching that figure would transform the comparison.